Trade Watch V8 No 2 Mar-Apr 2014

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10 Tradewatch • The Official E-Newsletter of the Caribbean Export Development Agency • Vol. 8 No. 2 March - April 2014
TRAINING & CERTIFICATION FOR CAPACITY BUILDING
ProNET Training Continues Across the Region
Caribbean Export continues the roll out of its flagship training
programme, the Productivity Network (ProNET) in partnership with
the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
The agencies are committed to improving the basic business skills
of SMEs, as a vehicle to increase productivity and competitiveness.
The eventual goal of the training is to make regional firms
export ready and positioned to take advantage of the opportunities
available under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). These
objectives are in keeping with the institutional goal of enhancing
private sector development to create an enabling environment for
businesses, and are directly related to Caribbean Export’s mandate
under the EU’s 10th Euorpean Development Fund (EDF).
ProNET is a modular training programme designed specifically
for manufacturing enterprises that want to improve the
competitiveness and export-readiness. The programme aims to
increase productivity and profitability in SMEs, allowing owners
and managers to operate their businesses more efficiently and
effectively. The programme consists of 9 modules which cover
Business Strategy, Quality Management, Production Management,
Management of Resources, Product Development, Information and
Knowledge Management, Human Resource Management, Cost and
Financial Management, and Export Marketing. The workshops are
conducted across the region by 27 specially certified trainers who
are experts in their designated fields in both English and Spanish.
From 2012-2013, ProNET has seen participation from two
hundred ninety-seven (297) SMEs. Additionally, for the first time,
the Agency in partnership with the Grand Bahama Port Authority
has commenced a 3 part series of ProNET in Freeport enabling
registered businesses to sign-up and participate in training over
a period of three months. The first session was held on March
25-26 on the Business Strategy module focusing on profitability,
competitive advantage, customer strategy and product strategy.
The following sessions were held on April 28-30 and May 27-29
and covered cost and financial management and export marketing
respectively.
Participants in ProNET Training viewing product samples
on display during the session
Facilitators and organisers of ProNET pose for group
photo after training session
On April 28-30, 2014 the Agency also hosted ProNET training
in Trinidad and Tobago in collaboration with Trinidad and Tobago
Manufacturers Association (TTMA). This session focused on
Resource Management and Quality Management.
ProNET has become a hugely popular suite of intensive
programmes and the Agency’s seminal developmental
intervention attracting firms from across the region. ProNET will
continue to be available across the region through collaborations
with national Business Support Organisations.
For additional information or to participate in ProNET, contact
Kevin Jones, Advisor, Competitiveness and Innovation at kjones@
or visit TW)